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News archive 2008:

November 16th, 2008
Bart Nelson brings home the Wally and the 2008 NHRA Summit National Championship title. The highly competitive driving skills that earned Bart various wins throughout the year piloted him to the iconic Pomona win. It is because of Bart that Houston Engine and Balancing is able to claim back to back NHRA Summit National Champions with Dennis Clark earning the title in 2007.

October 12th, 2008
Bart Nelson made it through eight rounds of Super Pro at the NHRA Summit ET Racing Series Division 4 Finals this weekend to claim the Wally for Houston Raceway Park. Bart was also able to claim a final 9th round win over a Pro vs. Super Pro dual to earn the right to compete in the NHRA Summit National Championship Finals at Pomona, California. This marks the second consecutive year a Houston Engine and Balancing customer will travel to Pomona to compete in the NHRA Summit National Championship. In addition to Bart's pursuit for a National Championship, Houston Raceway Park was able to claim top honors out of 15 other track teams at the Bracket Finals. Everyone at Houston Engine and Balancing would like to thank our customers for their continued support and look forward to the last few races this year and the year to come.

July 19-20th, 2008
It was an exciting weekend for the Costales family and Houston Engine and Balancing as both Saturday and Sunday Super Pro wins were claimed by Tommy Costales and his son Jay. Saturday’s National Dragster Challenge featured an all Houston Engine and Balancing final that pitted the ultra consistent 67 Camaro of Danny Ray Martinez against Tommy’s HoustonEngine.com dragster. As for Sunday, Jay and Tommy made up two thirds of the semi-final round field. Jay was awarded the bye run into the final after posting the best reaction time for that round; Tommy exited just before the final, but earned enough points in one weekend to put himself in second place just below Danny Ray for Super Pro. Jay finished up the last three rounds to victory by posting .005, .004, and .005 race packages.

May 18th, 2008
In front of a hometown crowd, many Houston Engine and Balancing customers were seen advancing through the Houston Raceway Park NHRA Division 4 race. After all the smoke had cleared, it was Stephen Hughes taking the Wally home for Super Comp and Chris LeBlanc adding another Wally to his collection for Super Street. To the spectator’s delight, Dwight Pyle returned to competition with his freshly assembled bumper dragging 55 Chevy Shoebox and new Houston Engine power plant for a runner-up finish in the dragster filled Super Comp Category. We have posted various photos from the event you can view or download in the photo gallery section HoustonEngine.com.

April 19th, 2008
Bart Nelson takes an early points lead in the O’Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series at Houston Raceway Park with a win on Saturday. It took a total of 8 rounds for Bart to claim the top spot; He was able to accomplish it with extremely narrow margins of victory (3rd round .0074, 4th round .0065, 5th round .0034, and final round .0019).

April 12th, 2008
Using pure driving skill, Aaron Hubbard was able to take home his 3rd career Texas Pro Stock Association victory this weekend at Abilene Dragstrip. After taking the win over his father with a .006 starting line advantage, Aaron continued to leave the green bulb hanging with double O lights for the semi-final and final round win.

April 12th, 2008
Houston Engine and Balancing was first opened in 1957 by Luther Costales and was later taken over by his son and current owner Tommy Costales. Today, Houston Engine continues to remain a family owned business that strives to put consistent reliable horsepower in the vehicles of its customers. If you were listening to the Sammy and Bob Show (97.5FM The Ticket) on April 12th, you heard Jay Costales speak about Drag Race Timing, Wireless Timing and Scoring, and Weather system technologies. Jay also made references to HoustonEngine.com and thanked everyone at Houston Engine and Balancing Service for their help and support of his 67 Corvette race program. Houston Engine and Balancing currently utilizes Jay’s AltaWeather software and AltaLab Instrument’s hardware to provide horsepower correction factors for all Depac dynamometer tested engines. During the live radio interview, Jay made references to the support services Les Costales provides in FAST fuel injection tuning and his attention to automotive service details. Les has over 15 years of automotive experience on General Motor vehicles and over 2500 hours of GM training. He has the ability to provide the services needed after the Houston Engine and Balancing sale to assure the maximum amount of performance from your ride. All together, Houston Engine and Balancing stands proud of its products and services and looks forward to providing you with excellent automotive machine shop service.
Sammy and Bob Show First Hour
Sammy and Bob Show Second Hour

March 16th, 2008
Bart Nelson took the lead in Super Pro points after an extremely successful weekend at the Texas Motorplex DragRaceResults.com Bracket Racing Series. Out of the 5 total available races to enter, Bart was able to make it to 3 of the finals. Keep an eye on Bart, as he will be aiming his Houston Engine and Balancing equipped bullet in an attempt to add a 3rd consecutive Houston Raceway Park track championship to his name in 2008.

March 2nd, 2008
Houston Engine and Balancing Service engine builder, Tommy Costales, claimed his second consecutive No Problem Raceway NHRA Division 4 runner up finish this weekend. The Super Comp semi-final round had both Tommy, with his HoustonEngine.com dragster, and Shannon Brinkley, with his Texas Outlaw Fireworks entry, at hand giving Houston Engine and Balancing customer’s fifty percent category coverage. If you are looking for consistent and reliable horsepower, give Tommy Costales a call and build a dynamometer tested custom racing engine specific to your needs.

Congratulations To:

  • Bart Nelson: NHRA (Super Pro) Summit E/T Series National Champion 2008
  • Conrad Stanley: UK (Super Gas) National Drag Racing Champion 2008
  • Conrad Stanley: SPRC (Super Gas) Drag Racing Champion 2008
  • Conrad Stanley: APIRA (Super Gas) Ultimate Power Drag Champion 2008
  • Daryl Patton: Houston Raceway Park (Super Pro) Track Champion 2008
  • Dewayne League: Edinburg International Racetrack (High Roller) Winner Nov 29, 2008
    • Danny Ray Martinez: Edinburg International Racetrack (High Roller) Semi-Finalist Nov 29, 2008
  • Terry League: Edinburg International Racetrack (Super Pro) Winner Nov 28, 2008
  • Tommy Costales: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 1+2) Winner Nov 16, 2008
  • Dennis Clark: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Foot Brake 1+2) Winner Nov 16, 2008
  • Tommy Costales: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 1) Winner Nov 16, 2008
    • Jay Costales: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 1) Runner-Up Nov 16, 2008
  • Daryl Patton: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 2) Runner-Up Nov 16, 2008
  • William Oldham: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Foot Brake 1) Runner-Up Nov 16, 2008
  • Dennis Clark: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Foot Brake 2) Winner Nov 16, 2008
  • Jay Costales: Houston Raceway Park (King of the Track) Winner Nov 16, 2008
  • Dennis Clark: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Foot Brake 1+2) Runner-Up Nov 15, 2008
  • Tommy Costales: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 1) Runner-Up Nov 15, 2008
  • Stephen Hughes: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 2) Runner-Up Nov 15, 2008
    • Terry League: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro 2) Semi-Finalist Nov 15, 2008
  • William Oldham: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Foot Brake 1) Runner-Up Nov 15, 2008
  • Dennis Clark: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Foot Brake 2) Winner Nov 15, 2008
  • Stephen Hughes: San Antonio Halloween Classic (Electronics) Winner Nov 1, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: San Antonio Gunslinger Winner Nov 1, 2008
  • Stephen Hughes: San Antonio Halloween Classic (Electronics) Winner Oct 31, 2008
  • Jeffrey Miller: Clobberthon (Tuff Street) Runner-Up Oct 25, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: NHRA (Super Pro) Summit ET Bracket Finals Div. 4 Winner 2008
  • Larry Blankenship: NHRA (Super Street) O'Reilly Fall Nationals Runner-Up 2008
  • Ray Martinez: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Runner-Up Sept 7, 2008
  • Daryl Patton: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Winner Sept 6, 2008
    • Stephen Hughes: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Runner-Up Sept 6, 2008
  • Matt Exner: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Winner Aug 24, 2008
    • Tommy Costales: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Runner-Up Aug 24, 2008
  • Stephen Hughes: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Winner Aug 23, 2008
    • Daryl Patton: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Runner-Up Aug 23, 2008
  • Derrick Patton: S/S Racing Index 6.20 Houston Motorsports Park Winner Aug 9, 2008
  • Jay Costales: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Winner July 20, 2008
    • Tommy Costales: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Semi-Finalist July 20, 2008
  • Tommy Costales: NHRA (Super Pro) National Dragster Challenge Winner July 19, 2008
    • Danny Ray Martinez: NHRA (Super Pro) National Dragster Challenge Runner-Up July 19, 2008
  • Ray Todd: NHRA (Super Street) Memphis Motorsports Park Div. 4 Semi-Finalist 2008
  • Danny Martinez: Angelton Raceway (Electronics) Winner July 5, 2008
  • Aaron Hubbard: TPSA Pine Valley Raceway Winner June 28, 2008
  • Stephen Hughes: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Runner-Up June 22, 2008
    • Larry Blankenship: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Semi-Finalist June 22, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: DragRaceResults.com (Gambler Race) Texas Motorplex $5,000 Winner June 21, 2008
  • Roger Warren: IHRA (Super Rod) Pine Valley Raceway Winner June 21, 2008
  • Clint Crownover: TPSA Houston Motorsports Park Runner-Up June 14, 2008
  • Derrick Patton: S/S Racing Index 6.20 Houston Raceway Park Winner May 31, 2008
  • Stephen Hughes: NHRA (Super Comp) Houston Raceway Park Div. 4 Winner 2008
    • Dwight Pyle: NHRA (Super Comp) Houston Raceway Park Div. 4 Runner-Up 2008
  • Chris LeBlanc: NHRA (Super Street) Houston Raceway Park Div. 4 Winner 2008
  • Danny Ray Martinez: S/S Racing Index 7.0 Houston Motorsports Park Winner May 10, 2008
    • Stephen Hughes: S/S Racing Index 7.0 Houston Motorsports Park Runner-Up May 10, 2008
  • Daryl Patton: Fun Ford Weekend (Fast Ford) Houston Raceway Park Winner May 4, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: IHRA (Quick Rod) State Capitol Raceway Div. 4 Winner May 4, 2008
  • Danny Ray Martinez: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Winner April 20, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: O'Reilly E.T. Bracket Racing Series (Super Pro) Winner April 19, 2008
  • Aaron Hubbard: TPSA Abilene Dragstrip Winner April 12, 2008
  • Ray Todd: IHRA (Hot Rod) San Antonio Raceway Div. 4 Runner-Up 2008
    • Chris LeBlanc: IHRA (Hot Rod) San Antonio Raceway Div. 4 Semi-Finalist 2008
  • David Hubbard: TPSA Northstar Dragway Runner-Up Mar 29, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: DragRaceResults.com (Super Pro) Texas Motorplex Runner-Up Mar 16, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: DragRaceResults.com (Q16) Texas Motorplex Runner-Up Mar 14, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: DragRaceResults.com (Super Pro) Texas Motorplex Runner-Up Mar 14, 2008
  • Bart Nelson: DragRaceResults.com (Q16) Texas Raceway Runner-Up April 26, 2008
  • Danny Martinez: Houston Raceway Park - Bracket Bash (Super Pro) Runner-Up Mar 15, 2008
  • Jerry DeBusk: NHRA (Super Gas) No Problem Raceway Div. 4 Winner 2008
  • Tommy Costales: NHRA (Super Comp) No Problem Raceway Div. 4 Runner-Up 2008
    • Shannon Brinkley: NHRA (Super Comp) No Problem Raceway Div. 4 Semi-Finalist 2008
  • more...
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